Riley Green honors legendary country music band ALABAMA with a performance of “Dixieland Delight,” a song he …
Riley Green honors legendary country band ALABAMA with a performance of “Dixieland Delight,” a song he has been covering for over a decade. Green’s lively performance will air exclusively on CMT tonight, August 15, at 8 p.m. as part of a star-studded evening called “CMT GIANTS: ALABAMA.” This highly anticipated show welcomes some of the biggest names in the genre to honor the incredible career of one of the most successful country groups of all time and their impact on the genre.
Fans immediately began clapping along to the song’s familiar beat as the “Worst Way” singer took the stage with his guitar and proudly played the classic song that he has a special connection to as it reminds him of his Alabama roots and early career.
“I was excited to get there and when I got a call to sing a song and kind of a tribute to the group ALABAMA, it was a huge honor for me personally from Alabama,” he said in an interview with CMT. “I grew up listening to his music. I’ve built a great relationship with Randy over the years. He’s always been a really great mentor to me. I’m so glad I can shed some light on what a great career they’ve had.”
“Dixieland Delight” was written by Ronnie Rogers and released on January 28, 1983 through RCA Nashville Records as the first single from ALABAMA’s seventh studio album. The closer you get. After its release, the song became a staple in college football, particularly in Green’s home state among fans of the Alabama Crimson Tide.
“I think I’ve covered ‘Dixieland Delight’ at every show for over a decade. It’s an Alabama state anthem. I grew up in all these college towns, so it’s going to be pretty cool, probably a little nerve-racking, to play it for the group that made it famous,” Green admitted. “Of course you want to do it justice. They made the song a huge hit, and I started playing it for a bunch of drunks in a bar in Alabama. So it’s going to be a little different setting than tonight.”
The vibrant energy radiating from the crowd clearly shows that Green certainly did the song justice. His authentic accent allowed him to tell the story from the perspective of a man who is excited to spend a “Saturday night in Tennessee” with his better half.
Green brought the house down and inspired sing-alongs as he launched into the chorus: “Spend my dollar/ Parked in a valley under the mountain moonlight/ Hold ’em tight, love a little/ A little turtle diving on a Mason Dixon night/ Fits my life, oh, so well/ My Dixieland pleasure.”
At the end of the performance, he and the violinist took the stage and showed off their skills on the string instruments, for which they received a standing ovation from Randy Owen himself.
Riley Green joins an all-star lineup of artists selected for “CMT GIANTS: ALABAMA,” including Jason Aldean, Blake Shelton ft. Steve Wariner, Brad Paisley, Jamey Johnson, Jason Aldean, Little Big Town, Old Dominion, Pam Tillis & Lorrie Morgan, and Sam Hunt. These artists took the stage to perform some of ALABAMA’s most iconic hits that remain fan favorites to this day.
In addition to all the unforgettable performances, legendary figures such as Evander Holyfield, Lionel Richie, Luke Bryan, Martina McBride, Vince Gill and more will appear both in person and virtually to share personal stories from ALABAMA’s musical journey and her influence on the genre. Their sentimental memories will be paired with rare photos, performance footage and archival interviews.
Plus, viewers will enjoy a brand new conversation with ALABAMA themselves, reflecting on their success that began over 50 years ago when Jeff Cook, Teddy Gentry and Randy Owen left the cotton farms of Fort Payne, Alabama to spend the summer playing music in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. For six years, they made money from tips until they finally landed a major label deal and were able to turn their dreams into reality with a major label contract.
The band was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2005 and created iconic hits such as “Mountain Music,” “Roll On,” “Dixieland Delight,” and “If You’re Gonna Play In Texas (You Gotta Have A Fiddle In The Band).” Even after losing co-founder Jeff Cook in November 2022 after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease, ALABAMA has carried on his legacy by continuing to tour on a limited basis. They are currently on their Roll On II North American Tourand the next performance is scheduled for September 13th in Stateline, NV.
The CMT GIANTS franchise was launched in 2006 to celebrate the careers of country music’s most legendary artists. Singer/songwriters previously honored include Reba McEntire (2006), Hank Williams, Jr. (2007), Alan Jackson (2008), Kenny Rogers (2020), Charley Pride (2021) and Vince Gill (2022).
